Pauly Boy Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Anybody have any info or pictures of PMC/civilian helicopter usage in these theater's?? I know they were there, M8 Hip's and Hueys, being I assume the most common. Always looking for something different to build. Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) Hello Paul Unfortunately, I found surprisingly little about civilian helicopters in Afghanistan: Photo by Reuters, found here. Another photo of what looks like the same helicopter can be found here (scroll down to about the middle of the page). There must be more out there as IIRC Northern Alliance used proper civilian Mi-8 (the ones with square windows) as a VIP and troop transport even before 2001 invasion. Cheers Jure P.S.: Sorry, Paul, it took me some time to figure out what PMC means. Why did not you just write mercenaries? OK, two photos of YK-KME here, along with a photo of another Mi-8/Mi-17 family choper. Here is a photo of Mi-26 Australia hired for airlift operations in Afghanistan - not exactly a private army, although strictly speaking the helicopter is civilian. And, of course, a report about an accident of a Bell 214 ST here; unfortunately, all the photos I found on the web show this helicopters decades before her military use. Edited February 10, 2020 by Jure Miljevic P.S. added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Boy Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Thanks Jure. Sorry for the confusion. I've noticed in the last couple of weeks that not everyone is familiar with the shortened titles. COIN, FAC, PMC, etc. The info I'm looking for is not easily obtain, your right. Nice effort though! P.S. I was in Slovenia last September, beautiful country. I would visit again! Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Thanks, Paul. Cold war acronyms are not a problem, but I have not heard PMC often enough to memorize its meaning. Well, live and learn. Cheers Jure P.S.: I am glad you liked it in Slovenia. I was in Canada on summer vacations (way back in 1975) and I enjoyed the visit very much, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spejic Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Try looking for images of the US State Department Air Wing. They operated Hueys in Afghanistan in both a fetching sand camo scheme and a civilian-looking grey with red stripe, both of which might be armed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim R-T-C Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 There were two all-white UN marked Mi8s flying most days when I was in Mazar-e Sharif last year, not sure what their role was. Apart from that, the airfield was all NATO forces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonywood Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 A Google search for CIA Mi 17 brings up some interesting photos. The DoSAW also operated modified SH-3 and CH-46. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 2 minutes ago, tonywood said: A Google search for CIA Mi 17 brings up some interesting photos. Wolfpak decals did some markings for one of these on one of their sheets, I don't think that it is print no more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 On 2/13/2020 at 10:03 AM, Jabba said: Wolfpak decals did some markings for one of these on one of their sheets, I don't think that it is print no more. It's sheet 72-018 "Working the Sands" and, unfortunately, is out of print, A Google search for "Blackwater Helicopters Iraq" will also return some interesting images which may give you some inspiration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 I have some from my tours abroad. I am sorry for the low quality. I brought a cheap-ish Nikon camera (two actually, the first one died over there). Jens 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 I found another one. Jens 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 And a few more Hips. Jens 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Boy Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 Thank you all for the information! I've looked at some of the sites suggested and have found a plethora(good word) of great pictures. I find these "covert"/pmc kind of subject very interesting and for modelling purposes so much more interesting than a standard look. I find myself looking further afield for interesting build subject that are not routinely found on our modeling sites. I think there could be something here for a future endeavor! Thanks again to all. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 (edited) Way back in 2006 during my first tour in Basra, the refuelling point next to our Merlin hangar was regularly visited by a plain gloss blue Huey that was always met by a black Chevy van and some dodgy looking blokes in civvies. Most of our lads assumed it was either CIA or Blackwater operated. None of us RAF boys ever had the balls to get a picture though! Edited April 11, 2020 by paul_c 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Blackwater. I used to see them in Baghdad all the time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 On 2/15/2020 at 11:48 AM, Jens said: I found another one. Jens I'm pretty sure this isn't an Afghani Hip. The antenna fit might provide a hint......... BM. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 I am sure it wasn't Afghan. Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey Posted May 5, 2020 Share Posted May 5, 2020 I don't know if it's one of the Mi-8s pictured but I seem to recall that the very first air assets that became available in Afghanistan was a Hip utilized by the CIA when we first put boots on the ground. This was before the Green Beret ODA teams were inserted to help the Northern Alliance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now